COLUMBUS, Ohio – The Ohio State women’s ice hockey team clinched a spot in the WCHA Final Five by sweeping Minnesota State in both games of the series this weekend. Senior Shana Frost (Sr., Frankford, Ontario/Beatrice North York Aeros) scored the game-winning goal to lift the Buckeyes to a 5-4 victory over Minnesota State Saturday at OSU Ice Arena in Columbus, Ohio. The game marked the final meeting between the teams during the regular season.

Ohio State improved its record to 10-18-2 overall and 6-11-2 in the WCHA. Minnesota State has an overall record of 9-18-3 and 6-12-2 in the WCHA.

Minnesota State’s Tristin Stephenson scored the first goal of the game, on the Mavericks second attempted shot of the game, at 5:11. Ohio State’s Crystal Sayther (Fr., Burnsville, Minn./Bursnville) tied the game with her third goal of the season at 13:14 assisted by Erin O’Grady (Jr., London, Ontario/Culver Academy) and Jaclyn Haines (So., Rossland, British Columbia/Team Pacific/Team British Columbia). MSU took the lead when Melanie Salatino netted a goal at 14:59. At the end of the first period, OSU trailed 2-1, despite leading 19-5 in shots.

The Buckeyes rebounded in the second period. OSU’s Haines set up Meaghan Mulvaney (So., Sylvania, Ohio/Honeybaked) for a goal in the crease. Mulvaney scored off her own rebounded shot at 12:13. Mulvany was involved in the action again, when she dug the puck out from behind the net setting up Jeni Creary (So., Shell Lake, Saskatchewan/Notre Dame) for a goal at 18:30. OSU tallied 12 shots to MSU nine during the period. Ohio State’s O’Grady scored her third goal of the season off a rebounded shot by Heather Farrell (Jr., Perth, Ontario/Promfret/Connecticut Polar Bears) at 4:56 in the third period. Haines tallied her third helper of the game on the goal. Minnesota State came back scoring two goals, Andrea Jensrud at 8:27 and Amy Egli 15:03, to tie the game at 4-all. OSU’s Frost netted the Buckeyes’ game-winning goal at 16:56 assisted by Jana Harrigan (Fr., Burlington, Ontario/Mississauga Jr. Chiefs) and Emma Laaksonen (Jr., Espoo, Finland/Team Finland/Blues Espoo).

The Buckeyes outshot the Mavericks 37-25. The Buckeyes were 0-for-2 on the power play. Ohio State held Minnesota State scoreless on 1-of-2 power-play opportunities.